Camera

ABSTRACT

A camera including a generally prismatic body which includes a pair of relatively rotatable sections. One section houses a mechanism for transporting film strip past an exposure station at which frames of film are sequentially exposed, and the other section is coupled to the transport mechanism and is rotatable for successively actuating the mechanism to effect the incremental advancement of the film. The provision of the actuating means changes no camera dimension other than slightly increasing the length of the camera.

United States Patent Dierlrs [4 1 July 18, 1972 [541 CAMERA 2,660,10311/1953 Culp ..95/11 R x [72] Inventor: James E. Dlerks, Rochester, N.Y.P'imary Examiner john M Hora" [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Com any, R het Assistant Examinerl(enneth C. Hutchison NY, I AnomeyW. H. .1. Klineand D. Peter l-lochberg [22] Filed: Jan. 27, 1971 v 21 Appl. No.:110,218

1,821,492 9/1931 Briechlem ..95/12.5

[57] ABSTRACT ing means changes no camera dimension other than slightlyincreasing the length of the camera.

7 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,152

JAMES E. DIERKS INVENTOR.

mi/tlwi ATTORNEYS CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to Cameras, and in particular to themeans by which the filmstrip transport mechanism in a still camera isactuated.

2. Description of the Prior Art Most still cameras in current use areadapted to receive a roll of filmstrip and to incrementally advance thefilmstrip past an exposure station at which frames of the filmstrip aresuccessively exposed. The leading end of the filmstrip is generallyfastened to a take-up core which is rotated to draw the'film towards thecore and to wind the film thereon. Some cameras effect film advancementby rotating a sprocket wheel which is engaged with perforations providedalong the edges of the filmstrip. The various film advancing mechanisms,whether they be in cameras adapted to receive filmstrip in a singlecontainer as in most 35mm cameras or in cameras adapted to receive filmcartridges comprising a pair of film compartments disposed on oppositesides of a film support wall, are actuated by a lever, knob or similarmanually operable device.

The actuating means for the film advancing mechanism must satisfyvarious criteria. It should be readily operable, which requires that theactuating means be large enough to be grasped with ease. Levers andknobs can usually be gripped between the photographers thumb andforefinger. On the other hand, the actuating means should not besusceptible to damage and it should not render the camera unwieldy. Mostcurrent camera bodies are of sufficient size relative to the filmwinding member that recesses can be provided in the camera body toaccommodate the winding member whereby the member's dimensions andoperating space do not detract from the basic size of the camera body.

There have recently been developed several sub-miniature cameras whichfind great utility by virtue of their case of storage and theirinconspicuous appearance. These cameras are designed to receivefilmstrip having a size of about 16mm. The camera designer of suchcameras is posed with the difficult problem of maintaining a small sizeand low silouette for the camera while providing a sturdy and effectivedevice for actuating the film advancing mechanism in the camera. Theproblem is aggravated by the reduced size of the camera since theactuating device may have to withstand a greater operating force tocompensate for the decreased space for force-saving leverage in thecomponents of the film advancing mechanism. The knobs and levers whichhave previously been used on cameras for actuating the film advancingmechanism in the camera are inadequate for these small cameras becausethey add substantially to the dimensions of the camera if they are to beeffective in use. On the other hand, if the size of these actuatingmembers is reduced to a size commensurate with that of the camera, theybecome too weak to sustain the forces applied to the, and they arerendered too small to be easily operable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide aneffective means for actuating the film advancing mechanism of a camera.

Another object is to provide a rugged yet easily operable actuatingdevice for the film transport mechanism of a camera.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a devicefor actuating the film advancing mechanism of a subminiature camera,which does not add appreciably to the bulk of the camera.

A further object is to provide a sturdy and easily operable device for asubminiature camera without increasing the height or depth of thecamera.

An additional object is to achieve the foregoing objects in aneconomical manner.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thedescription to follow and from the appended claims.

The preceding objects are accomplished by the provision of a camerahaving a generally prismatic body which includes a pair of relativelyrotatable sections. One section houses the mechanism for transportingfilmstrip past an exposure station at which frames of film aresequentially exposed, and the other section is coupled to the transportmechanism and is rotatable for successively actuating the mechanism toeffect the incremental advancement of the film. The provision of theactuating means changes no camera dimension other than slightlyincreasing the length of the camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the preferred embodiment of theinvention described below, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings in which FIG. 1 is a rear isometric view of a camera accordingto the invention, with a portion cut away to reveal an interior partthereof;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the camera shown in FIG. 1, with the filmwinding member showed in an active position;

FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view of the film transport mechanism ofthe camera shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A camera is shownin FIG. 1 which has a body 1 including a first section 3 and a secondsection 5. The camera is of the subminiature type and is dimensioned tofit, for example, in a mans jacket pocket. First section 3 of the cameraincludes a housing 7 which contains the various operating mechanisms ofthe camera, and has an objective lens disposed on the front of thecamera (not fully visible in the drawings) and a window 9 in the rear ofthe camera through which indicia on the back of filmstrip in the cameraare visible. Housing 7 is defined by a depth dimension D between thefront and rear walls of the camera, a height dimension H which issubstantially less than D, and a length dimension L,.

Second section 5 of the camera is actually a knob for actuating the filmtransport mechanism which is housed in section 3. Section 5 is rotatablerelative to section 3 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. Section 5 isconfigured to define an end of the camera, and has height and depthdimensions substantially equal to the corresponding dimensions ofsection 3. Section 5 has a length L, which is of sufficient size toallow a photographer to grip section 5 and rotate it to the positionshown in FIG. 2. The two sections 3 and 5 thus form a compact prismaticpackage which is devoid of components extending therefrom.

A film transport mechanism which can be incorporated in the camera isshown in FIG. 3 although other such mechanisms will be known to thoseskilled in the art. The mechanism comprises a gear train adapted torotate a gear 11 from which extends a film take-up core 13, for windingfilm 15 about the core. Gear 11 and core 13 can be part of a filmcartridge, these elements being represented schematically in the drawingfor the sake of clarity. The gear train illustrated includes a drivegear 17 which is enmeshed with a gear 19, the latter being pinned to agear 21. Gear 21 is provided with teeth on one face thereof which areengaged with the teeth of a rotatablesector gear 23, the latter gearsbeing mounted for rotation in perpendicular planes.

A post 25 is mounted on gear 23 and has extending radially therefrom apawl 27 which is engaged with a ratchet 29 for effecting rotation of agear 31 on which the ratchet is located, in response to the clockwiserotation of gear 23. Gear 31 remains stationary when gear 23 is rotatedcounterclockwise. The teeth of gear 31 are engaged with the teeth ofgear 11. A film metering gear 33, to which a gear 35 is pinned, can alsobe engaged with gear 31 and is rotatable upon the displacement of thelatter. The gear train is operated in response to the rotation of gear17 which is integral with section 5. Section 5 is mounted on a post 37which extends from Section 3. Post 37 is disposed slightly rearwardly ofthe middle of the camera.

The rotation of section is the means by which the film transportmechanism is actuated. The rotational path of section 5 is indicated bythe arrow in FIG. 1, and it may be observed that section 5 is movablefrom the inactive rest position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown inFIG. 2 to effect film advancement. Since film should only be advanced inincrements sufficient to position successive frames of film at thecamera exposure station, the rotation of section 5 is restricted by afixed pin 39 extending from section 3 through an arcuate slot 41disposed radially from post 37. Section 5 is biassed towards its restposition by a torsion spring 43 wound around post 37 and fixed at oneend in a slot 45 in post 37. A leg 47 of the spring abuts against a wall49 of section 5. As section 5 is rotated clockwise, the coils of spring43 increase their grip on post 37, and leg 45 exerts an increasingcounterclockwise force in section 5.

The transport of film 15 in camera 1 is accomplished in astraightforward manner. After taking a picture, the photog rapher graspssection 5 and rotates it clockwise until the lower end wall of slot 41abuts against pin 39. Rotation of section 5 is facilitated by theeccentric mounting of the section on post 37. This rotation causes alike displacement of gear 17 about post 37. The rotation of gear 17rotates gears 19 and 21 counterclockwise. Sector gear 23 is therebyrotated clockwise, as in gear 31, due to the positive engagement of pawl27 in ratchet 29. In response to the foregoing displacements, gears 11,33, and 35 rotate counterclockwise to advance film 15 and to operate themetering mechanism, respectively. The foregoing motions are indicated byarrows on the various parts. Upon completion of the movement of section5, it is released and subsequently spring driven to the rest position.The return movement of section 5 displaces elements 17, 19, 21, 23, 25and 27 to their initial positions, gear 31 and the elements driventhereby remaining stationary since pawl 27 rides over the teeth ofratchet 29 rather than positively engaging them.

It can be seen that the camera described above incorporates a sturdy,easily actuable film winding knob despite the small size of the camera.The silouette and depth of the camera are not changed by the provisionof this member, and the knob cannot be damaged during handling and isnot likely to damage a pocket or storage case when the camera is not inuse.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

I claim:

1. A camera for receiving filmstrip and making photographic exposures,said camera comprising:

a generally prismatic housing having length, height and depthdimensions, said body being structured to hold filmstrip;

means disposed in said housing for transporting filmstrip in thehousing;

5 a knob coupled to said transporting means for actuating said means,said knob having length, height and depth dimensions, said height anddepth dimensions being substantially equal to the correspondingdimensions of said housing, and said knob being located adjacent saidhousing to form a unit having a length equal to the combined lengths ofsaid knob and housing, and height and depth dimensions equal to theheight and depth dimensions of said housing.

2. A camera for receiving filmstrip and for making photo- 15 graphicexposures, said camera comprising:

a prismatic housing for receiving the filmstrip, said housing having alateral end portion, and height and depth dimensions;

a mechanism in said housing for incrementally transporting thefilmstrip; and

means for actuating said transporting mechanism, said actuating meanshaving a prismatic configuration and height and depth dimensions equalto the height and depth dimensions of said housing, and being locatedadjacent the lateral end portion of said housing and rotatable relativeto said housing for actuating said advancing mechanism;

wherein said camera has a height and depth dimension defined by theheight and depth of said housing.

3. A camera according to claim 2 wherein the height dimension of saidcamera is substantially less than the depth dimension of said camera.

4. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said advancing mechanismcomprises a gear train coupled to said actuating means.

5. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said mechanism is sequentiallydisplaceable in amounts sufficient totransport the filmstrip inpredetermined increments, and said camera further includes means forrestricting the rotation of said actuating means by an amount sufficientto displace said mechanism by said amounts.

6. A camera according to claim 5 wherein said housing and said actuatingmeans have corresponding front portions, and said actuating means has arest position from which said means is rotatable for actuating saidtransporting means, said front portions being flush when said actuatingmeans is in the rest position.

7. A camera according to claim 6, said camera further including meansfor urging said actuating means to said rest position.

1. A camera for receiving filmstrip and making photographic exposures,said camera comprising: a generally prismatic housing having length,height and depth dimensions, said body being structured to holdfilmstrip; means disposed in said housing for transporting filmstrip inthe housing; a knob coupled to said transporting means for actuatingsaid means, said knob having length, heIght and depth dimensions, saidheight and depth dimensions being substantially equal to thecorresponding dimensions of said housing, and said knob being locatedadjacent said housing to form a unit having a length equal to thecombined lengths of said knob and housing, and height and depthdimensions equal to the height and depth dimensions of said housing. 2.A camera for receiving filmstrip and for making photographic exposures,said camera comprising: a prismatic housing for receiving the filmstrip,said housing having a lateral end portion, and height and depthdimensions; a mechanism in said housing for incrementally transportingthe filmstrip; and means for actuating said transporting mechanism, saidactuating means having a prismatic configuration and height and depthdimensions equal to the height and depth dimensions of said housing, andbeing located adjacent the lateral end portion of said housing androtatable relative to said housing for actuating said advancingmechanism; wherein said camera has a height and depth dimension definedby the height and depth of said housing.
 3. A camera according to claim2 wherein the height dimension of said camera is substantially less thanthe depth dimension of said camera.
 4. A camera according to claim 3wherein said advancing mechanism comprises a gear train coupled to saidactuating means.
 5. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said mechanismis sequentially displaceable in amounts sufficient to transport thefilmstrip in predetermined increments, and said camera further includesmeans for restricting the rotation of said actuating means by an amountsufficient to displace said mechanism by said amounts.
 6. A cameraaccording to claim 5 wherein said housing and said actuating means havecorresponding front portions, and said actuating means has a restposition from which said means is rotatable for actuating saidtransporting means, said front portions being flush when said actuatingmeans is in the rest position.
 7. A camera according to claim 6, saidcamera further including means for urging said actuating means to saidrest position.